John 20:5–9

The third particular in this Narration is, their successe and observation when they came to the sepulchre, v. 5.6, 7, 8. — with the effect it had upon John, v 8. and his remark and account thereupon, v. 9. In general, it is supposed here, that they found the sepulchre empty, and Christ not in it. But more particularly, John records their progresse and particular observations there: and namely, That he coming first, contented himself to look in and see the linnen cloaths lying, wherein they had wound Christs body, but went not in, as contenting himself with the sight, or possibly, being afraid to enter, because he had heard that Angels were there, v. 5. That Peter coming after, went into the grave, and observed more distinctly the order how these linnens lay, v. 6, 7. and, that he following Peters example, went also in, and saw and observed the same more distinctly also, v. 8. — Unto this John subjoynes an account of the effect this sight had upon him, that it perswaded him to beleeve, v.—8. which he amplifieth from an acknowledgement of their common evil of not taking up and beleeving the Scriptures, which spake of the Resurrection of Christ. Concerning this beleeving of John, and his acknowledgement thereupon, of their ignorance and unbelief of the Scriptures. Consider, 1. Albeit by some it be conceived that he beleeved no more then what the women had told, that Christs body was taken away, and that because they knew not the Scriptures as yet, therefore he could beleeve no more; and albeit so much only be recorded as the general account of their diligence, when they returned from the grave, or, at least the hearers understood it so, Luke 24.24. yet this being recorded particularly of John, it seems more probable, that upon this sight he did beleeve his Resurrection, and that it was true which the Angels had said to the women, though it was but in some weak measure, and it may be he was as easily shaken again. Nor is it needful to debate, whether their not believing upon Maries report that she had seen Christ, Mark 16 9.10, 11. (which was after this, as appeareth, v. 18.) was true only of the body of them, John being excepted, or whether he staggered again. Only this is beyond all contraversie, that both Peter and Mary, (who went also with them, as appeares, v. 11) did beleeve so much as that his body was taken away: and therefore it needed not be remarked as any thing singular in him, that he beleeved so much. And withal, this interpretation helps us to put a difference among all these three who were now at the sepulchre; Mary she believes no more then she did, and therefore stayeth still about the grave, till she got a sight of Christ to comfort her, v. 11, 12, &c. Peter, though it seems he goeth a further length; yet he doth not beleeve, but only wondereth, and is astonished at these things, Luke 24.12. and gets a sight of Christ before the rest of the disciples, to clear and confirme him, Luke 24.34. 1 Cor. 15.5. But John doth here beleeve, and therefore needs no such particular confirmation, till afterward that he getteth it with the rest. Consider, 2. This amplification and reason subjoined, v. 9. albeit, being applied generally to all, or the most part of them who were there, (as it is generally expressed) it is true, they did not beleeve his Resurrection, but only that he was taken away, or did wonder and were confounded with what they saw, and that because they did not, even then, consider nor beleeve the Scriptures. But applying it particularly to John, it holds thus true of him, that he did believe only when he saw, and not before, because he had not heeded nor believed the Scripture, speaking of Christs Resurrection, till he saw this accomplishment. Whereas had he beleeved the Scripture, he might have been assured of this before he saw these things. And so John, when he gets faith, acknowledgeth his fault, recording it in this Narration, and acknowledgeth it was a common fault among them. Doct. 1. There were such clear evidences to be seen about Christs grave, as made it apparent that he was indeed risen from the dead, and was not conveighed away, neither by friends nor foes, nor any other for their own ends; for, the lying of the linnen cloathes, observed by both of them, did clearly witnesse this. Beside, that it would have been a terrour to have handled a naked dead man; what could be the end of any party to carry away his body, and leave these? It is not to be supposed that any friends, (could they have had accesse to him through the guards) would have so handled his blessed body, as to carry it away naked; nor could it have agreed with their designe, to carry him away by stealth, to take leisure to strip him. And as for his foes, or others, it is to be supposed they would rather have had the fine linnen and the spices then his body; and so would never have left these behind, when they carried it away; yea, the orderly lying of the linnens, and that not so much as a napkin was away, but orderly wrapped and laid up, (as is remarked by Peter, v. 7.) doth evidence that this was not done in haste nor confusion. 2. That Christ rising from the dead, left his grave-cloathes behinde him, (which yet were all the cloathes he had, the souldiers having parted his garments) whereas Lazarus came out with his grave-cloathes, John 11.44. It may serve to teach us, not only what he hath purchased to us by his death and Resurrection, even a restitution to that blessed estate through him wherein Adam was in innocency, (when he needed no garments) though the compleat enjoyment thereof be suspended till eternity, wherein we shall be perfected, and shall not only need nothing to cover our outward nakednesse, but shall leave that infirmity and corruption, which accompanieth us to the grave, behinde us, as he left his grave-cloathes. But further, it teacheth, That Christ rose again not to live any more in this world, nor to die any more, but to live and reign for ever: and therefore he left his grave-cloathes, whereas with Lazarus it was otherwise, he being to live in the world for a space, and then to die again. 3. A little stand in any good course may put a man behinde even those who otherwise were behinde him; for, John out-ran Peter in coming to the grave, v. 4. and yet standing a little at the grave, Peter, who was behinde, doth get before him, and gets a more distinct sight. 4. A sincere and constant follower of his duty, though slow, may at last attain to cast a copy to these who are more forward; for, Peter, though slow, yet holding on, attains to cast John a copy who came before him. 5. A sincerely forward man is so humble, as to be content to learn a lesson, even from one who hath sometime fallen foully, and who even now was behinde him; for, John learns this lesson from Peters example, and went in also and saw. 6. The Lords way of working with his own is divers, and he may gift faith to one of his own, when yet another, having the same means, is left under the power of unbelief for a time; for, he saw, and beleeved, which Peter and Mary as yet did not. 7. Faith is so far above the reach of nature, that it is hard to endure, even Saints, to beleeve, when they want satisfaction to their sense; for, he saw and beleeved, and not till he saw. 8. It is our great fault, and the fruit of much ignorance, peevishnesse, and aversenesse from the way of faith, that plain Scriptures, which might comfort us, lye beside us unobserved, or not beleeved and trusted; for, so much doth Johns acknowledgement import, when he saw and beleeved, and so got insight in, and gave credit to the Scriptures, he acknowledgeth that as yet, or before this, he had not known the Scripture; Not that he could be simply ignorant, of what Christ had so often told, and the Angel had even now sent them word of by the woman, but that he had not heeded, or pondered and beleeved it. 9. When the Lord condescends to give us sensible satisfaction, for the help of our faith, it is our duty not to rest upon such a way, and alwaies to suspend our beleeving, till we get the like again; But we ought rather to look on it as a reproofe for our not studying or heeding, and not beleeving naked truth, and accordingly should humhle our selves, and acknowledge our fault: Therefore John, getting this sight, acknowledgeth his fault, that he did not before beleeve, for as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. They did not heed and ponder these things which were revealed in the Word, so as to feed upon them by faith. 10. Any evil, and particularly, the evil of ignorance or not believing the Scripture, is the more odious and grievous to a godly man, the more it be common and frequent; Therefore doth John bring out this reason and acknowledgement in general, they knew not the Scripture, not so much to give reason why the other two beleeved not as yet, far lesse to extenuate the matter, but to aggravate this fault which he found in himself, when he perceiveth it so common, and so sad fruits of it yet in the rest. 11. The children of God may be much in the dark, and much over-powered with unbelief, by reason of their ignorance and in an houre of tentation, who yet are not to be cast off, nor is it to be despaired but they will recover themselves; Therefore John only saith, as yet they knew not the Scripture, which yet afterward they did, and it seemes he himself now attained to know it in part.